Swann Hopes Op Will Save Career

England bowler Graeme Swann is hoping a second operation on a longstanding elbow injury will prolong his career.

The off-spinner was ruled out of England's current Test series against New Zealand after learning that he required further surgery to clear away floating bone fragments in his right arm.

Monty Panesar has taken the Nottinghamshire bowler's place in the England team for the first Test in Dunedin, with James Tredwell called up to join the squad for the remainder of the tour.

Swann is encouraged by the success of his previous elbow operation, and accepts surgery is essential if he wants to have any chance of playing in England's back-to-back Ashes series this year.

"I know if I don't have the surgery it's more or less curtains. I'm assured the surgery is relatively simple. So touch wood, it will be - and I'll wake up on the other end, and everything will be great," he said.

"I'm buoyed by the success last time I had it done, and my elbow was in a lot worse shape then than it is now. I'm very confident I'll bounce back in a short space of time."

Swann, 33, who has taken 212 wickets in his 50-match Test career, is travelling to the United States for surgery on his injured elbow.